It’s been a long wait, but the new £30 million super casino has finally opened to the public…

It feels like just yesterday we were celebrating the opening of Victoria Gate, but while we’ve been busy enjoying the medley of new shops and restaurants, they’ve been hard at work on their next big milestone – Victoria Gate Casino. It opened to the public on Thursday 26th January 2017, offering a heady mix of gaming, entertainment and fine dining – and we’ve got the lowdown.

“It has been years in the making, from applying for the casino licence, to designing the space with Leeds-based architects Fuse, to building it and adding the finishing touches this week. It’s been amazing to see all that hard work pay off and the ideas come to life,” Patrick Noakes, Venue Director at Victoria Gate Casino, told us.

The first thing you need to know about Victoria Gate Casino is just how big it is. It’s the third largest casino in the UK and the only one of its kind in the North. Spread over three floors with 50,000 square foot of floor space, it’s the equivalent of 18 tennis courts – and they’ve certainly made the most of it. The new super casino boasts 140 slot machines, 75 electronic gaming terminals, 24 gaming tables and a poker room that can hold up to 100 people.

“Victoria Gate Casino will be a casino unlike any other in the north of England. It’s an entertainment destination in the heart of Leeds and it will be one of the biggest venues in the city,” Noakes told us. “It’s a game-changer – not just for casino fans but for the city as a whole. Victoria Gate Casino will strengthen Leeds’ already diverse entertainment, dining and nightlife offering and will provide so much more than just gaming. It’s a unique opportunity to create a best-of-class venue that covers not just gaming, but dining and entertainment, big game sports action and corporate hospitality.”

Indeed, there’s a lot more to the venue than just gaming. It boasts 3 outdoor terraces, 2 bars and a restaurant – in fact, they’re only expecting around 50% of the people who visit to get involved in the gaming, the rest will be making the most of the facilities.

You’ve got Live Bar, which as the name suggests, is all about live sport. They’ve created a TV wall, using 21 55-inch screens, with another 61 screens scattered round the venue, and they’ll be broadcasting 24 hours a day. This is a seriously cool sports bar, and one that’s guaranteed to have the game on, whether it’s the World Cup Final, the Super Bowl or the World Heavyweight Championship Title Fight.

If you’re after something a little more luxurious, Curve is the place to go. They’ve partnered up with Moët & Chandon for this one, so expect a lavish venue that will make you feel special. It’s not just bubbles though, they have 29 cocktails for you to choose from, alongside craft beer and an ever-changing selection of cask ales from local breweries.

Hungry? Make a beeline for V – the restaurant at Victoria Gate Casino. It’s fine dining, of course, with everything from British classics to pan-Asian cuisine. And it’s all locally sourced, as Noakes explained, “We’ve worked with local suppliers wherever possible, including well-respected names like Sykes House Farm near Wetherby, R. Bethell – a 4th generation fishmongers at Leeds Kirkgate Market – and Guiseley-based fruit and vegetable supplier Threshfield. York Coffee Emporium is also supplying a brand of quality roasted coffee beans for us.”

Victoria Gate Casino is the biggest entertainment venue to open in Leeds since First Direct Arena back in 2013, and it’s going to be great for the city, bringing in oodles of visitors and attracting the country’s gaze back to the North. It’s also helped to create 205 full time jobs, 90% of which have been sourced from the Leeds City Region, with a focus on helping people who aren’t in education, training or employment to get back on the career ladder.

What do you think of the new Victoria Gate Casino? Will you be among the first to place your bets or will you be giving it a wide birth? Let us know in the comments…